The best water filter for most homes we’ve reviewed. It’s countertop reverse osmosis with no plumbing, certified by IAPMO R&T for lead, fluoride, PFOA/PFOS, arsenic and nitrate, and it costs about $0.33 a gallon to run.
The catch: It needs an outlet and makes half a gallon at a time, so big households may prefer an under-sink system.
Health information, not medical advice. Guidance differs for infants, pregnancy and existing conditions. Test your own water and speak to a doctor or your local health authority. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links; it never affects our scores.
The short answer
The best water filter is one certified for what’s in your water. Certification means NSF International, IAPMO R&T or WQA has checked the exact model against an NSF/ANSI standard; “tested to NSF standards” on a box doesn’t. We score every filter on those certifications first, then on value, filter life, setup and flow.
- Best overall: AquaTru Carafe, countertop reverse osmosis certified for lead, fluoride and PFOA/PFOS, with no plumbing.
- Best under the sink: Aquasana Claryum Max Flow for lead and PFOA/PFOS with no wastewater, or the Waterdrop G3P800 if you need fluoride reduced too.
- Best pitcher: Culligan ZeroWater, certified for fluoride and Total PFAS; the PUR PLUS for lead and Total PFAS on a budget.
- Best whole house: Aquasana HealthShield, the only whole-house system on sale we’ve found certified for PFAS.
How our top picks compare
Nine filters across every type, ranked by overall score, with the certifier and running cost for each. How we score
| # | Filter | Score | Certified by | Lead | PFAS | Fluoride | Running cost | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | AquaTru CarafeBest overallCountertop RO | 4.6 | IAPMO R&T | Certified | Certified | Certified | $0.33/gal | $356.25on Amazon › |
| 02 | Aquasana Claryum Max FlowBest under-sink filterUnder-sink carbon | 4.3 | WQA | Certified | Certified | No | $0.11/gal | $449.99on Amazon › |
| 03 | Waterdrop G3P800Best under-sink ROUnder-sink RO | 4.3 | IAPMO R&T | Certified | Certified | Certified | About $160/yr | $759.00on Amazon › |
| 04 | Aquasana Clean Water MachineBest countertop, no wastewaterCountertop carbon | 4.3 | WQA | Certified | Certified | No | $0.12/gal | $199.99on Amazon › |
| 05 | Culligan ZeroWaterBest pitcherPitcher | 4.2 | IAPMO R&T | Certified | Certified | Certified | $0.68 to $0.93/gal | See priceat Culligan › |
| 06 | APEC RO-90Best value ROUnder-sink RO | 4.2 | WQA | Certified | No | Certified | $60 to $75/yr | $219.16on Amazon › |
| 07 | Waterdrop ED01Best gravity, no plumbingGravity dispenser | 4.1 | IAPMO R&T | Certified | Claim | No | $0.08/gal | $45.99on Amazon › |
| 08 | PUR PLUS PitcherBest budgetPitcher | 4.0 | IAPMO, WQA, NSF | Certified | Certified | No | About $0.25/gal | $28.12on Amazon › |
| 09 | Aquasana HealthShieldBest whole houseWhole house | 3.1 | WQA | No | Certified | No | About $875/yr | See priceat Aquasana › |
Certified: Certified by an independent body (named in each pick). Lab test: Tested by a named independent lab, not certified. Claim: The maker's claim, not certified. No: No claim. PFAS means PFOA/PFOS, or Total PFAS where the pick says so.
Our nine picks in detail
What each filter is certified for, who certifies it, and who it suits.
AquaTru Carafe
One of the broadest certified claim lists we've seen, including fluoride and arsenic, with no plumbing. It needs an outlet and makes half a gallon at a time, and its filters work out to about $0.33 a gallon at AquaTru's prices.
Aquasana Claryum Max Flow
Certified lead and PFOA/PFOS reduction without reverse osmosis: it keeps minerals, wastes no water and pours 0.72 gallons a minute. Filters are about $0.11 a gallon. It doesn't reduce fluoride.
Waterdrop G3P800
Tankless reverse osmosis with certified lead, fluoride and PFOA/PFOS reduction from its own faucet. It needs a power outlet under the sink, and filters cost about $160 a year.
Aquasana Clean Water Machine
Certified for lead, PFOA/PFOS and microplastics with no wastewater, and Aquasana says it fills an 8-ounce glass in about 8 seconds. It doesn't reduce fluoride or dissolved solids, which takes reverse osmosis. Filters run about $0.12 a gallon in a 2-pack.
Culligan ZeroWater
One of few pitchers with certified fluoride reduction, plus Total PFAS. Filters cost $0.68 to $0.93 a gallon and run out faster on hard water.
APEC RO-90
One of the broadest certified claim lists in under-sink RO, including lead, fluoride and arsenic V, and filters cost about $60 to $75 a year. No PFAS claim and no mineral stage.
Waterdrop ED01
Our highest score here: certified lead reduction for about $40, with filters at roughly $0.08 a gallon in a 3-pack. It's small, though: 15 cups at a time, pumped out by a rechargeable battery. Buy the ED01, not the ED01A, which uses a different filter certified for chlorine only.
PUR PLUS Pitcher
Certified lead and Total PFAS reduction for about $0.25 a gallon with a 3-pack of filters. You change it every 40 gallons, and owners say it slows as it fills.
Aquasana HealthShield
Certified PFAS and VOC reduction at every tap, which most whole-house filters we've checked lack. The tank lasts 165,000 gallons (about 2 years) and costs about $1,749 to replace, and it isn't certified for lead.
Best water filters by type
Reverse osmosis
The broadest reduction, including fluoride, arsenic and dissolved solids. Countertop or under-sink; sends some water to the drain.
Under-sink
Filtered water on tap from its own faucet or yours. Carbon models keep minerals and waste nothing; RO models cut fluoride too.
Countertop
No plumbing: Plug in and fill. Good for renters, with options from carbon to full reverse osmosis.
Pitchers
The cheapest start. Pick one certified for lead or PFAS; most are certified for chlorine taste only.
Gravity
No power or plumbing, for off-grid use or emergencies. Check the certification: Many popular models are certified for chlorine only.
Whole house
Every tap, showers included. Certified reduction is rare at this size, so pair one with a certified drinking-water filter.
Which other filters are worth a look?
These didn’t make our nine picks, but each is certified for something that matters and suits a particular home: The Epic Smart Shield for lead at full faucet flow, the Brita Elite for certified lead reduction in a pitcher you may already own, the Culligan Aquasential RO if you’d rather have a dealer install and service it, and the Culligan MaxClear for lead and Total PFAS without power or plumbing.
Epic Smart Shield
Brita Elite
Culligan Aquasential RO
Culligan MaxClear Venture
How to choose a water filter
1. Know what’s in your water
City water: Read your utility’s annual water quality report. Well water: Get a certified lab test. Filter for what’s there, not for everything.
2. Match the certification
Check the certifier’s listing for the exact model and contaminant: NSF/ANSI 53 for lead and PFAS, 58 for reverse osmosis (fluoride, arsenic), 401 for microplastics and pharmaceuticals, 42 for chlorine taste.
3. Count the running cost
Filter costs range from about $0.08 a gallon (Waterdrop ED01) to over $0.90 (Culligan ZeroWater on hard water). Over a few years, that matters more than the purchase price.
4. Fit it to your home
Renters: Pitchers, countertop or faucet-free units. Owners: Under-sink or whole-house. Reverse osmosis needs a drain; some units need an outlet.
Common questions
What’s the best water filter for home use?
For most homes, the AquaTru Carafe: It’s certified by IAPMO R&T for lead, fluoride, PFOA/PFOS, arsenic and nitrate, and needs no plumbing. If you own your home and want water on tap, the Aquasana Claryum Max Flow (lead and PFOA/PFOS) or Waterdrop G3P800 (adds fluoride) go under the sink.
Do I need reverse osmosis, or is a carbon filter enough?
A certified carbon filter can handle chlorine, lead and PFOA/PFOS. You need reverse osmosis for fluoride, arsenic, nitrate or high dissolved solids. See our reverse osmosis guide and does reverse osmosis remove PFAS?
Which water filters remove PFAS and lead?
Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for both. Among our picks, the AquaTru Carafe, Aquasana Claryum, Waterdrop G3P800, Aquasana Clean Water Machine, Culligan ZeroWater and PUR PLUS are certified for both. See our PFAS guide and lead guide.
Does “NSF certified” mean the filter removes everything?
No. Certification is per contaminant and per model. A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine taste may have no lead or PFAS claim at all. Check the listing for the exact model and the contaminant you care about. See what NSF certification means.
How do you score these filters?
Certified contaminant reduction is 40% of the score, then value (20%), filter life and running cost (15%), ease of setup (15%) and flow (10%). Certified claims get full credit, named-lab results half, and maker claims none. We don’t run our own lab tests. How we rank
Sources
Prices as of October 17, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.